I really enjoyed this book. The story was atmospheric, chilling, and mysterious. I was intrigued from the beginning. I loved the eerie Irish estate setting. I thought there were some creepy moments in this story and I think this is the perfect read for spooky season.

The characters did get a little annoying with all their drama and I despised the mean girls in the group. I thought the MC made some stupid decisions.

I loved the author’s writing and I can’t wait to read her other books. I definitely recommend this book to YA horror/mystery lovers.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC of this book via NetGalley for review.

A spooky Irish castle, a friend group with secrets, a Ouija board... this atmospheric suspense story is perfect for the upcoming spooky season!

Meg always felt like an outsider at Greyscotts. When she's invited to spend Samhain (learned about that on Bogdan) at isolated Wren Hall by two former classmates, she reluctantly accepts. There's a "we used to be friends, a long time ago" vibe going on, but we're not sure what has caused the breech between Meg and her classmates, or why this trip has REALLY been planned. When someone turns up dead, was it an accident, or murder.

Our Wicked Histories is deeply atmospheric with lots of suspense. It's hard to know if the story is supernatural or real. Put it on your Halloween reading list!

A girl's attempt to make amends with her former friend group takes a sinister turn at an ancestral Irish estate in this gothic horror story inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's The Fall of the House of the Usher. Meg has been invited to visit her former friends for the weekend at their ancestral Irish estate, its the opportunity for her to make amends after the "incident" that got her exiled last year and had all her friends ghosting her. Meg needs this chance to get back in their good graces, and when the gorgeous Wren Twins invite you, you don't say no. Meg was best friends with Lottie Wren... and having a very secret relationship with Lottie's twin brother Seb.... who was also in an on and off relationship with another friend in the group Laure. Yet an incident occurred during the ball last year that involved Seb, Laure, and Meg and now Meg has to make amends with Laure if she wants to get back into the group. Yet spending the weekend at a creepy manor and seeing strange things... and possible horrors and banshees while dealing with her complicated relationship with Seb, Meg has a lot on her plate including trying to remember what actually happened last year. This book was a huge miss for me, and as a big Edgar Allan Poe fan, this was just a disappointment. It definitely gave off YA Bly Manor vibes and every single character in this book was unlikable. Meg had barely any backbone and was boy crazy about Seb, a guy who had no personality and treated her like trash. It was just a disappointing read and all the "horror" moments really just didn't spark anything in me. If you like Bly Manor but with tons of teen drama and very low scares, this could be a good book for you, while if you are a Poe Fan and prefer actual gothic mysteries and horrors, I'd say pass on it.

Release Date: July 30,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's | Delacorte Press for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Amy Goldsmith has talent. The cover is fierce, and the novel has appealing elements going for it. The isolated, crumbling ancestral home, Irish legends, and creepy lake hooked me.

Initially, I related to the artistic scholarship student trying to fit in with privileged peers. The suspense, creepy atmosphere, and eerie happenings kept me turning pages to the end.

Unfortunately, I found the characters shallow–in characterization and personality. Many readers will find this novel satisfying. I expected to be thrilled with it, but for me, it lacks engaging personalities and depth. The prolonged flashbacks, clunky plot devices, and excessive superficial romance / pining scenes disrupted the flow, weakening the book. I lost respect and empathy for the main character.

Overall, it was entertaining for a fast read. I liked the horror scenes and the connections with history, painting, and poetry. Recommended for mature teen readers and fans of Gothics, Horror, Mysteries, and Dark Academia vibes.

These are solely my opinions. Thank you, Random House / Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the e-ARC for consideration. I'll add the TikTok link.
YA Gothic, YA Horror, YA Mystery, Dark Academia

3.75 stars

I'll be honest, I did not love this author's first book, and actually requested this one because I mixed her up with a different author, but I ended up liking this a lot more than her first book! This story follows Meg, a student on an art scholarship at a prestigious high school in London. After a falling out with her wealthy friends at a school dance that ended in Meg getting suspended, she's been desperate to get back into school and back in with her friends. So she's thrilled when Lottie, her bestie and the de facto leader of their group, invites her to her ancestral home in Ireland for Samhain. The home itself is not exactly what Meg was expecting---run-down and creepy, and on the shore of a lake that's rumored to be haunted by a banshee. As tensions within the friend group rise, so do the unsettling vibes. After they hear screaming and crying at night, some of the friends are ready to head home early. Until a bad storm strikes, taking out their power and cell service, flooding the lake, and completely isolating them from town.

This is a solidly creepy YA horror, with a few scenes that actually freaked me out to visualize. I didn't end up loving the resolution of a couple of the plotlines, though, mostly because they involved going back on some scenes we'd already witnessed, which was needlessly confusing. I also wasn't super clear on some parts of the supernatural plotline, which might just be me being too logical, but I had banshee questions. Either way, this was a fun read that I knocked out in a night, and a good combo of a locked-door horror mystery and teen drama. At this rate, this author's next book should be a home run for me, so TBD! Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley, for the free E-copy for review.

From the very first page, I was hooked by the atmospheric world of Amy Goldsmith's "Our Wicked Histories." The evocative setting, with its mysterious lake and haunting lore of a banshee, immediately drew me in. The depiction of the decrepit manor through the protagonist's eyes sets the tone for the entire narrative, creating a vivid and compelling backdrop.

What began as a seemingly ordinary drama amongst friends soon transformed into a suspenseful locked-room horror, brimming with secrets and mystery. The infusion of supernatural elements added an intriguing layer, elevating the reading experience.

I was particularly invested in Meg's journey, as her yearning for a sense of belonging tugged at my heartstrings. Her story, filled with heartbreak, resonated with a glimmer of hope that lingered long after the final page.

The complex dynamics between the twins shed light on the blinding nature of sibling relationships, revealing the capacity to overlook the uglier truths. The seamless interweaving of past and present timelines added depth and complexity to the narrative, further enriching the overall reading experience.

Ultimately, this was a highly satisfying read that transported me to a small town in Ireland during the Samhain festivities. I witnessed a riveting confrontation, the unveiling of deeply buried secrets, and the immersive lore surrounding the mysterious woman in the lake - a captivating banshee figure.

I was lucky to receive an arc of this book.

I was so excited going into this book, as I love gothic style novels. I was not disappointed at all. The characters was amazing, the writing style was more than my expectations

The plot twist was nothing like I expected and I finished this book looking at my kindle going ????? Is that it

This story fell flat for me, almost felt like it didn't go anywhere. Almost dnf'd at 53%. It felt predictable with almost no character development

I read this author’s debut novel and was excited to see what she did next. I enjoyed this one even more.

Can we take a moment to gaze upon this stunning cover? Haunting, mysterious, and alluring – it goes perfectly with the story. These characters are either old money, new money, or no money – main character Meg falls in the latter category. She receives a scholarship to the exclusive Greyscott Academy where her mother is employed in janitorial services. Meg is worried she won’t connect with any of the wealthy students, but she’s immediately befriended by the charismatic Lottie and welcomed (by some) into her group of friends. With the opportunity of a lifetime, good grades, and new friends, Meg’s life is like a dream – until she does something so offensive at the spring ball that everyone drops her, and she faces school suspension. Three months later, Lottie invites her and their friends to the family manor in Ireland so Meg can make amends.

Between the crumbling manor and creepy lake with statues that may or may not move when you look away, this novel is brimming with atmosphere. The Ireland setting and its lore just multiplies it. Normally I need to connect with characters, but this large cast is a perfect example of how that’s not necessary to enjoy a story. None of them are very likeable and most treat the others, especially Meg, badly. Chapters alternate between revealing Meg’s fall from grace and the horrors the characters face at the manor – disappearances, bodies, the possibility of a murderer among them, and possibly something unspeakable in the lake.

Other reviewers have compared this novel to The Haunting of Bly Manor, and there are similarities. The blend of horror, mystery, and psychological thriller makes for a compelling story I read in a couple days. I’ll definitely be snatching up this author’s next release. Recommended for fans of gothic horror, dual timelines, and those who don’t mind unlikeable characters.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I didn't know I needed a book that gave Bly Manor meets the Fall of the House of Usher with a dash of Haunting of Hill House, but that is exactly what Our Wicked Histories gave--and I DEVOURED it! It doesn't hesitate to hit you with the eeriness of it all; we're thrown right into the midst of Meg's history and the history of Wren Hall. So many moments in this book gave me chills and made me wonder if I should sleep with my lights on, avoid any and all water, avoid mirrors...possibly all three...and I was kept in a chokehold wondering what was really going on at Wren Hall. My only complaint is that the pacing near the middle/mid-end got a little slow--but I wanted so badly to find out what had happened to Meg and how the book would end that I hardly cared! Amy Goldsmith left me thoroughly impressed and desperate for more, and I'll DEFINITELY be picking up Those We Drown. Fear death by water, right?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC of Our Wicked Histories.

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
📺 loved The Fall of the House of Usher
🇮🇪 want to visit Ireland
🎃 love Halloween
📖 enjoy reading YA drama

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

There’s something in the lake at Wren Hall.

At least, that’s what the locals say. Not that Meg cares much about the rumors. When she’s asked to spend Halloween weekend at the Ireland retreat of the wealthy Wren twins, she recognizes the invitation for exactly what it is: her last, and only, chance to save her spot at Greyscott’s, the exclusive British art school she attended on scholarship until last summer. Clever, beautiful, and talented, the twins are the pride of Greyscott’s, and kindhearted Lottie Wren was once Meg’s closest friend. But not anymore.

None of Meg’s old friend group have talked to her since she left school—and they especially don’t talk about the incident that resulted in her suspension. Now, Meg is willing to do whatever it takes to earn their forgiveness.

But Wren Hall turns out to be far from the idyllic country manor Meg was expecting. The house is damp and drafty, the mirrors are all covered, and the weed-choked lake is at the center of legends that haunt the property to this day—a tainted legacy the estate seems unable to shake.

The truth is, people aren’t the only ones who keep secrets. Places can keep them too—and Wren Hall is drowning in them. When the past bleeds into the present and ancient sins rise to the surface, Meg must ask herself how well she really knows her one-time best friends...or whether any of them will survive the weekend.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was an interesting read that started off really strong but slowly lost the plot for me. I loved the setting - Ireland, October, Halloween right around the corner, and a possible ghost? Yes! But it slowly turned into more of a drama than a paranormal mystery for me which I just didn’t love. Those who love YA drama will probably love it though. I just wanted more of a spooky feel.

I did not like this book at all sadly. The gothic setting was nice along with the ghost hauntings these really carried the book for me. As for the characters, they were a bit weak and just seemed to whine the whole book. Most books that use flashbacks I enjoy because they give you a better idea of the story and how it unfolded. This book started off making me think it was the second book in a series and took too long to do a flashback so that the reader knew they were describing how we got where we are today. I also feel like the flashbacks were in odd places and didn’t smoothly connect with the story.
Thank you to Random House Children, Delacorte press, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

I thought the atmosphere of this book was done well; the crumbling old mansion next to a murky lake surrounded by Irish rain and fog was a great setting that enhanced the creepy vibes.

I wish there had been a bit more focus on the murder mystery and the banshee/ghost element and less on the teenage drama. The present day pettiness and snark combined with the regular flashbacks of Meg's time at Greyscott's hindered the otherwise well done creepiness. The final reveal of the killer was a bit obvious for me; but I think this worked well as a YA thriller. It would be a fun read to curl up with on a blustery rainy day and get spooked.

This was a deliciously frightful tale! The story itself feels heavily inspired by gothic themes, stylistically reminiscent of a hybrid between Mary Downing Hahn's earlier middle-grade horror works (in terms of the spook factor. This particular novel is not suitable for a younger audience!) and The Haunting of Bly Manor (if you know, you know). Though I presumed the "twist" long before the curtains dropped, I still very much enjoyed the ride as a direct result of the incredibly well-written sinister atmospheric tone... If you needed anymore prompting, the story is set in Ireland, in a remote, isolated gothic estate that overlooks a lake that may or may not have been the site of some, well, pardon the pun, wicked history. Not to mention because it is Ireland after all, it reliably rains for 90% of the novel's events.

Definitely a fun ride, though I wish I had saved this one for October!

This was a great young adult gothic horror story. This book was very atmospheric and the author’s writing was captivating. I found the story to be a bit slow to start out but it had enough elements to keep me intrigued until it picked up. I loved the eerie setting and also how the author incorporated mythology and folklore into this story. Overall this was a good read, that’s perfect for the spooky season.

Thank you to Delacorte Press for the gifted copy.

“Our Wicked Histories,” by Amy Goldsmith

I really liked this book. It was slow in the beginning but picked up after a little while. I got very attached to the FMC and did not want to see these rich, spoiled, mean kids treat her the way they do. The ending was a shock to me because I saw it going a certain way, but it wasn’t exactly like I thought. The FMC struggles with what and who she wants to be, sitting in with her peers, and her own morals and self-respect. She grows a lot throughout the book. The murder mystery aspect in a desolate place during a storm made the plot more intense. 4 out of 5 stars, so worth reading.

-Ghost Lore
-Banshees
-Poor Kid X Rich Kids
-Who Done It
-Artists

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

This is such a great blend of folk horror, gothic horror, and locked room mystery thriller. It’s been a long time since a YA book has hooked me like this. A pretty slow burn but I loved the element of things increasingly feeling ‘not right’ with this dilapidated ancestral home. And there were some truly chilling moments! I was reading this late at night and actually got scared, a rare occurence.

Our Wicked Histories gave massive Erin A. Craig vibes, so if that’s an author you enjoy then you absolutely need to check Goldsmith out.

I did audio for the last 20% and thought the narrator was the perfect choice.

Our Wicked Histories is a thrilling, terrifying gothic horror that kept me reading so late that my eyes hurt and I had to stop. It's about Meg, who up until recently, was a scholarship student at a prestigious private arts school. She's been suspended, cut off from the future she was building for herself and her friend group, ever since an incident at the summer ball. But all of that is going to change. Her best friend, Lottie Wren, invites her and the circle of friends to the ancestral Wren manor in Ireland, a place steeped in colonial trauma and more recent trauma, crumbling and flooding and generally more than a little unpleasant (even before the deaths start). Meg is going to make amends, get accepted back at Greyscott's, and continue on with her life. That is, if she can survive this getaway. Mix banshees, a Samhain party, creepy paintings and creepy twins, no cell service, and what you should do then is fear death by water.
I loved it. It started a little slow, and was annoying in how much it held back about the Incident, but once it got rolling, it really got rolling. All the characters are spectacularly dislikable (with like, 1.5 exceptions), as it should be in a book set in a gothic manor. It was a bunch of rich kids and one deeply unreliable narrator, and much like Knives Out, one of them is guilty of something way bigger. Or it's a ghost. The atmosphere is so perfectly set, with the storms and the lack of cell service and the way the power keeps going out. It uses a lot of tropes, but tropes exist for a reason. Goldsmith uses them well, not as a crutch but as a way to help lay breadcrumbs for the reader. The tension builds and builds, and watching the characters squirm and break as the pressure builds is delightful. The backstory, what happened when Meg was accepted at Greyscott's and what led up to and happened at the ball, sometimes feel like they slow the story down, at about the midway point, but as the book builds up to both what did happen at the Incident and the climax of the book, it speeds back up again. Additionally, it's genuinely very creepy horror. It had me freaked out to go to the bathroom because there's a mirror in there, freaked out to leave the warmth of my bed because the rest of the apartment was dark. It was scary, and I lived for it.

Do not read this book at night. You've been warned!

Halloween, Irish manor setting, the author of Those We Drown—that's all I knew before diving (aha!) into this book and once again, Amy Goldsmith did not disappoint. She's back with her beautifully descriptive writing, eerie setting, and a story that moves at an amazing pace. On top of that, some truly unsettling moments. Why oh why did I only read this book at night? Lol

If you're into books that are atmospheric, that hook you from the very first chapter, and have creepy small-town legends, I would definitely check out Our Wicked Histories. This book was fantastic and is the perfect Spooky season/Summerween read. I cannot recommend it enough!

Our Wicked Histories, written by Amy Goldsmith, is a captivating and suspenseful narrative that had me on the edge of my seat until the final page. The intricate plot and complex characters kept me guessing throughout the entire story, making it a truly unforgettable read.